Citadel of Dinant
Citadelle de Dinant
A fortress perched about 100 metres above the Meuse cliffs, reached by cable car or by climbing 408 steps. Its exhibits recreate the WWI trenches and the 1914 Dinant massacre, and there is a dizzying 'Tilted House'.
A castle has stood on this hilltop since the 11th century. The surviving fortress was built by the Dutch between 1818 and 1821. The visitor route includes underground passages, 19th-century kitchens and barracks, a reconstruction of WWI trenches, and a historical exhibit on the German forces' massacre of 674 Dinant civilians in August 1914. The 'Tilted House' simulates a room after a shell hit, leaving visitors unsteady on their feet. The summit viewpoint offers excellent views over the Meuse, the church's onion dome and the old town. Admission is about 11 euros, including a return cable car ride. If you're fit, you can climb the 408 steps beside the church to the top.
Opening hours
About 10:00 am–5:00 pm (fewer open days in winter; check official website)
Nearby sights
- Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame of Dinant
- Maison de Monsieur Sax
- Maison de la Pataphonie
- Leffe Abbey
- Grotte La Merveilleuse
- Rocher Bayard
- Bouvignes-sur-Meuse & Château de Crèvecœur
- Lesse River Kayaking (Houyet–Anseremme)